A Sports Filled Weekend

The NHL playoffs have begun and the NBA’s postseason gets underway on Saturday. So there’s a wide variety to pick from in our Weekend TV Six-Pack.

Let’s ease into the busy weekend, though. The first game of our six-pack will begin on Friday afternoon and puts us in a leisurely mood because it’s baseball at Wrigley Field. The streaking Chicago Cubs (8-1, 3-0 at home) have a 2:20 p.m. ET start against the Colorado Rockies (5-4). Green grass and cozy confines – we’re off to a great start!

Friday night can be spent in the company of the St. Louis Blues and Chicago Blackhawks in their NHL playoff series. The Blues surprised in Game One with a 1-0 overtime win, and Friday night’s game Game 2 features the return of Duncan Keith, the defenseman who had been suspended for six games, to the Blackhawks lineup (8 p.m., NBC Sports).

There are nine college spring football games televised on Saturday. Nine! We’re going to suggest Ohio State’s at 1:30 p.m. on the Big Ten Network, because the Buckeyes have so many holes to fill as they lose running back Ezekiel Elliott, cornerback Eli Apple, offensive tackle Taylor Decker, quarterback Cardale Jones. Georgia’s will also be worth a peek (4:30 p.m., ESPNU) to see what sort of changes new coach Kirby Smart is implementing.

The NBA does us the great favor of putting (here we go again) the Golden State Warriors on at a time when the East Coast can see them. The Warriors open the playoffs at home against the Houston Rockets at 3:30 p.m. on ABC.

Sunday gives us the Detroit Pistons playing the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference. You want to watch LeBron James? This is the time (3 p.m., ABC) when he gets his scowl on. He’s in playoff mode.

Plenty to see, eh? Plunk your heiner in the recliner and relax. As always, watch responsibly.
 
 
Post By: Larry Weisman, a longtime sportswriter for USA TODAY, blogs for Twistity.com. Follow him on Twitter @MrLarryWeisman